The End Is Nigh.

Or So We Hope.State lawmakers and the Rendell administration have reached a tentative agreement on a 2006-2007 state budget that includes two of Gov. Ed's main priorities for next year.
The $26.3 billion budget expands health coverage for children and
boosts spending for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in public
schools by 6 percent. The package could be approved as soon as Friday,
the day before the new fiscal year starts.According to an outline obtained from Senate Democrats, the plan boosts
spending by 6.9 percent and contains $119.5 million in tax cuts for the
remaining six months of the calendar year.If this thing comes off, it will mark the first time the Republican-controlled General Assembly
and Democrat Rendell have approved a budget by the June 30
constitutional deadline. Rendell's last three budgets have all been
enacted after July 1.But even if they do get it done on time, the Capitol's going to be under 200 feet of water, courtesy of the swollen Susquehanna River, so we'll all probably be trapped here anyway.More of today's news after the jump.

30-Second U.S. Senate Update (TM):This just in: Our Rick, in addition to being a big fan of women and NASCAR, is now, apparently, a Green Party supporter as well.In a letter to Kamp Casey's Head Counselor Jay Reiff, Santorum campaign manager Vince Galko urged the Casey folks to help Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli get onto the November ballot. And, for the purposes of elucidation, we have annotated Galko's comments where appropriate." I believe our campaigns should encourage our supporters to help
Mr. Romanelli garner the necessary signatures he needs," Galko wrote. "Democrats,
Republicans and Independents all agree that the democratic process
should be open and welcoming to people of differing positions."So far, so good, right?But Galko can't resist kicking a little sand into Reiff's face."Although I assume Mr. Romanelli and Sen.
Santorum differ on many issues, we welcome a candidate to the debate
who has the courage of his convictions," Galko wrote.Translation: When are you going to debate us, Nancy Boy? The guy who's gonna' poll 3 percent if he's lucky is doing the legwork.And then, twisting the knife a little more, Galko closes by saying:"We hope neither the Casey campaign nor your allies within the Democratic Party will challenge his right to be on the ballot."Translation: We know he's gonna draw votes from you, but are you gonna try to stop him? We bet all those disaffected Pennacchio and Sandals voters would love to vote for this guy.Yes, all this is transparent posturing on Galko's part, but this could still be the most interesting thing that's happened in this campaign so far.

Lynn Swann ...is in suburban Harrisburg today to sorta kick off the first leg of his inaugural statewide bus tour. The Swannies say they're delaying most of the tour until the weekend because of this week's Noah's Ark-scale flooding.Today's event starts at 10 a.m. at the Swann HQ on Vartan Way in Susquehanna Township in Dauphin County. Then, it's off to Williamsport, where, equipped with body armor and shields, the campaign will greet the locals.

Striking A Blow For Democracy ...... the state House signed off on a measure last night designating English as the state's official language. Amazingly, it passed 122-70. The amendment, which was tacked onto the back of a bill governing insurance fees, includes exceptions, such as when public health, safety, or justice require, our friends at Capitolwire report this morning."This is a declaration from Pennsylvanians that we want to promote that language and have others learn it," said Rep. Adam Harris, R-Juniata, who sponsored the bill, and, presumably, has nothing better to do with his time.The bill now goes to the state Senate, where we hope it will die a quiet death on the Island of Misfit Legislation.

Those Accursed Peeps Dept.In honor of yesterday's budget accord, state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, was handing out boxes of the ubiquitous, hen-shaped marshmallow candies to her Senate colleagues. But instead of doling out the shiny, yellow Peeps we've all come to know and devour, the candies were colored a disturbingly bright green.We're not sure if this was some nod to the color of U.S. currency or if Boscola had a bunch of leftovers in her office from St. Patty's Day and was simply looking for a way to unload them. She was, however, nice enough to give us a box.Boscola's district, more astute readers might recall, is home to the Just Born Candy Co., which manufacturers Peeps, and that long-standing Capitol Ideas favorite, Mike & Ike's.

Speaking of Tchotkes ....... yesterday we were lucky enough to come into a unique little gizmo that polishes our eyeglasses. The thing looks sort of like a pair of tweezers, and there's a pair of little cleaning pads affixed to both of the tines. There's also a handy key-chain, so we'll always have it with us.The only reason we bring this up is because, embossed on one of side of the tweezer-y gizmo are the words, Speaker John M. Perzel, PA House of Representatives. So, apparently, they're taxpayer-funded eyeglass cleaners.The good news, however, is that at least one of us can see clearly now.In The Blogosphere:Keystone Politics on a Senate committee shooting down the House's lobbyist disclosure bill (and the endless dance begins); GrassrootsPA on yesterday's English-only vote in the House; Young Philly Politics on the bipartisan state government reform package introduced yesterday; A few links from Above Average Jane; Tony Phyrillas says Gov. Ed's put one over on seniors; FreePa on the Senate vote to ban handheld cell phone use by drivers; Two Political Junkies on the federal flag-burning amendment; PennPatriot on growing conservative disgust over the property tax bill; Several odds and ends from Dave Ralis; Hopefully, Gort made it to higher ground last night; A Big Fat-Slob calls Vince Galko a 12-year-old (that's not fair. Vince is at least 16, 'coz we've seen him driving.); Lehigh Valley Ramblings on an oil independence rally in South Bethlehem; PSoTD has some thoughts about lobbying; Suburban Guerrilla lights out for the coast; PopPolitics on how we're a nation of potty-mouths; Crooks and Liars on the Swift-boating of Jack Murtha; DCist has our picture of the morning; Red State on an increasingly interesting U.S. Senate race in Washington State; Powerline on diplomacy by fighter jet; Taegan Goddard on the never-ending laughfest that is Congressional redistricting in Texas, and Who's Having The Best Week Ever?